Senator Charles Schwertner has been accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a postgraduate student from the University of Texas, something the Georgetown Republican ‘categorically denied’ Tuesday.
According to the American-Statesman, a complaint from woman he met at an event on campus this summer states the married father-of-three shared an image of his genitals that was taken in the shower and used other inappropriate language.
The report states Schwertner, 48, was giving career advice via LinkedIn to the woman whose identity has been protected in line with student privacy laws, however their conversation soon moved to text messages and took a turn.
Senator Charles Schwertner, 48, was accused of sending an image of his genitals that was taken in the shower
The married father-of-three (pictured center) allegedly wrote ‘I just really want to f**k you’ to an unnamed woman he met at a University of Texas event this summer
Schwertner (pictured with wife Belinda) has three sons named Carson, Zachary and Matthew
At one point the man who describes himself as a ‘family man and life-long conservative’ on his website, allegedly wrote ‘I just really want to f**k you’.
Three senior officials from the university also told the American-Statesman that although they have not seen the photograph in question, it does not include the face of the person featured.
Schwertner – who has a has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the school as well as a medical degree from the university’s Galveston branch – is said to have not replied when the woman told him he had acted inappropriately.
‘The Senator categorically denies any knowledge of the accusations leveled against him and only became aware of this allegation when contacted by the media late this afternoon,’ Schwertner’s campaign spokesperson, Tom Holloway, said in a statement.
‘The Senator is eager to cooperate with the University of Texas and hopes to make clear he played no part in the behavior described.’
The Senator was giving career advice via LinkedIn to the woman whose identity has been protected in line with student privacy laws, however their conversation soon moved to texts
The American-Statesman reports that although they have not seen the photograph in question, it does not include the face of the person featured
A spokesperson for University of Texas (Galveston campus pictured) said they take allegations of wrongdoing seriously and encourage those on campus to report matters urgently
In December 2017 Texas Senate members Senator Borris Miles, a Houston Democrat, and former Senator Carlos Uresti, a San Antonio Democrat, were accused of behaving inappropriately with women related to their work in the Capitol.
Both men denied the allegations and Uresti later resigned due to unrelated matters including fraud.
Uresti was found guilty of 11 felonies and sentenced to 12 years in prison in June this year but remains out on bond as he prepares for another federal trial beginning October 22.
Schwertner is one of 23 male members of the Senate out of 31 people.
In December 2017 former Senator Carlos Uresti (left) and Senator Borris Miles (right) were accused of behaving inappropriately with women
Uresti later resigned due to unrelated matters including fraud. He was found guilty of 11 felonies and sentenced to 12 years in prison in June this year
He chairs the Health and Human Services Committee and forms part of the finance, state affairs and business and commerce committees.
The Senator is also involved with Higher Education Formula Funding on the Joint Interim Committee.
He was elected to the House in 2010 and moved up to the Senate when Republican Senator Steve Ogden retired 2013.
Schwertner was re-elected in 2014 after competition from the Democratic Party’s Meg Walsh.
Gary Susswein, a spokesperson for the university said they take allegations of wrongdoing seriously and encourage those on campus to report matters urgently.
He added in a statement which said they aim to investigate complaints ‘thoroughly and quickly’: ‘UT is strongly committed to fostering a safe campus environment and to providing needed support and resources to victims.’